Registration now open for the 2026 Salsa Sizzle — Register Now!

Facebook Youtube Instagram Linkedin
DONATE NOW
News

$1.88M in Medical Aid Delivered to Honduras

/

Every act of generosity has the power to change a life.

Thanks to the kindness of CAMO’s donors and partners across the United States, families throughout Honduras are receiving medical care that once felt out of reach.

During CAMO’s 2025–2026 fiscal year (May 2025 through April 2026), seven shipping containers arrived in Honduras carrying $1,881,233.62 in donated medical aid. More importantly, they carried hope.

Inside those containers were 8,606 boxes of medical supplies, nutritional supplements, mobility aids, orthopedic equipment, surgical instruments, and other essential healthcare resources. In addition, they included 406 pieces of medical equipment, such as hospital beds, incubators, dental units, and many other devices that healthcare teams use every day.

Reaching Communities That Need It Most

For more than 30 years, CAMO has worked alongside local partners to strengthen healthcare in Honduras. This year, those donations reached 73 organizations across 11 of the country’s 18 departments.

Hospitals, health clinics, municipalities, universities, churches, schools, nonprofit organizations, rehabilitation centers, and correctional facilities all received resources that continue serving their communities every day.

As a result, each donation reaches far beyond the organization that receives it. It becomes part of a larger chain of care, connecting generous donors in the United States with patients and families across Honduras.

Every Donation Has a Story

Behind every box is a person. Behind every donation is a story.

Recently, Olga and Blanca, missionaries serving remote communities along the border of Intibucá and Santa Bárbara, traveled nearly 12 hours to visit CAMO. They brought photographs and stories that reminded us why every shipment matters.

One woman wiped away tears after receiving a simple walking cane. For years, she had depended on a tree branch to help her walk. What seemed like a small gift gave her greater independence and dignity.

Another family shared how a donated hospital bed brought comfort to a critically ill loved one. Meanwhile, donated incubators continue helping healthcare professionals care for vulnerable newborns in hospitals with limited resources.

These stories remind us that medical donations do more than fill hospital shelves. They help people walk again. They give families comfort during difficult moments. They help doctors and nurses provide better care. Sometimes, they even help save a life.

Thank You for Making This Possible

Every container begins its journey in the United States. However, its destination is much more than Honduras. It reaches hospital rooms, rural clinics, schools, and families who discover that someone they have never met cared enough to help.

Thank you to every donor, volunteer, hospital, church, and partner who made these shipments possible. Your generosity delivered $1,881,233.62 in medical aid this year. More importantly, it delivered hope, dignity, and healing to thousands of people.

Together, we are building healthier communities—one shipment, one partnership, and one life at a time.

Help us fill the next container and continue bringing hope and healing to Honduras.

News

Preventing Cervical Cancer in Honduras: CAMO Medical Mission

/

For many women in the United States, a Pap smear is a routine part of preventive healthcare.

In Honduras, it’s often a different story.

Limited access to specialized gynecologic care means that thousands of women face significant barriers to receiving timely cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. In many public hospitals, access to specialists and advanced equipment remains scarce, making early detection difficult for patients who cannot afford private healthcare.

At CAMO, we believe that everyone deserves access to lifesaving care—regardless of where they live.

That’s why volunteer physicians like Dr. Jorge Romero continue to make an extraordinary difference.

Twenty Years of Building Women’s Healthcare

For more than two decades, Dr. Jorge Romero, an OB/GYN volunteer from the United States, has partnered with CAMO to strengthen women’s healthcare in western Honduras.

Rather than focusing only on treating patients during a short medical mission, Dr. Romero’s work is centered on something even more powerful: equipping local physicians with the latest knowledge and techniques so they can continue saving lives year-round.

“We have a project with CAMO to address cervical cancer through physician training. We’ve been doing this in Santa Rosa for the past 20 years, and many doctors have been trained in this field. Cervical cancer care is constantly evolving, and it’s important that physicians stay up to date so patients receive the very best modern medicine.”

His philosophy reflects CAMO’s long-term approach to global health: create sustainable healthcare by investing in local medical professionals.

Strengthening Local Expertise

During his most recent visit to Hospital de Occidente in Santa Rosa de Copán, Dr. Romero led an intensive masterclass focused on advanced cervical cancer prevention and diagnosis.

The training included:

  • Advanced colposcopy techniques
  • LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure)
  • Cervical biopsies
  • Post-procedure patient management

The educational program brought together:

  • 17 OB/GYN specialists
  • 3 general physicians
  • 1 nursing assistant

By sharing updated medical knowledge and hands-on experience, these healthcare professionals are now better prepared to identify precancerous changes early—when treatment is most effective.

Early Detection Saves Lives

Education was only one part of the mission.

Between June 1 and June 4, the team conducted a specialized colposcopy clinic at Hospital de Occidente.

During those four days:

  • 17 women received colposcopy examinations.
  • Twelve patients were identified as needing cervical biopsies for further evaluation.
  • The remaining patients were scheduled for follow-up care through the hospital.

These women now have access to critical diagnostic services that could identify cervical disease before it becomes life-threatening.

Because when cervical cancer is detected early, it is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer.

More Than Equipment—A Lasting Investment

To strengthen women’s healthcare beyond this medical mission, CAMO provided Hospital de Occidente with a state-of-the-art video colposcope through a one-year equipment loan.

Combined with the 250 Pap smears made possible during the brigade, this technology enables local physicians to deliver better cervical cancer screening and continue providing specialized care long after volunteers return home.

That’s the power of sustainable healthcare: leaving behind the knowledge and tools that continue saving lives every day.

Help Build Healthier Communities

Every volunteer, every donation, and every partnership helps create lasting change.

Last year, CAMO delivered more than 217,767 healthcare services in Honduras with the support of 158 U.S. volunteers.

Whether you choose to donate or volunteer in Ohio, you can help train healthcare professionals, equip hospitals, and expand access to lifesaving care for women and families across Honduras.

Join us in building healthier communities—one life at a time.

Noticias

Prevención del Cáncer de Cuello Uterino en Honduras

/

La detección temprana del cáncer de cuello uterino puede salvar vidas. Sin embargo, en Honduras, muchas mujeres aún enfrentan barreras para acceder a servicios especializados de diagnóstico y tratamiento.

Con ese compromiso, el Dr. Jorge Romero, ginecólogo voluntario de Estados Unidos y colaborador de Fundación CAMO desde hace más de 20 años, regresó al Hospital de Occidente para fortalecer la atención en salud femenina mediante la capacitación de médicos hondureños.

“Tenemos un proyecto con CAMO para atender el cáncer cervical a través del entrenamiento médico. Lo hemos desarrollado en Santa Rosa durante los últimos 20 años y hemos capacitado a muchos especialistas. El manejo del cáncer de cuello uterino evoluciona constantemente, por eso es fundamental que los médicos se mantengan actualizados para ofrecer a sus pacientes la mejor atención posible.” — Dr. Jorge Romero

Capacitación que transforma vidas

Durante su visita, el Dr. Romero impartió una jornada intensiva de actualización en:

  • Colposcopía avanzada.
  • Procedimiento ASA (LEEP).
  • Biopsias cervicales.
  • Manejo posterior a los procedimientos.

La capacitación reunió a 17 ginecólogos especialistas, 3 médicos generales y 1 auxiliar de enfermería, fortaleciendo la capacidad del Hospital de Occidente para detectar y tratar lesiones precancerosas de forma oportuna.

Diagnóstico oportuno para prevenir el cáncer

Del 1 al 4 de junio se desarrolló una jornada de colposcopías en la que se realizaron 17 estudios especializados. Como resultado, 12 pacientes fueron remitidas para biopsia, mientras que las demás quedaron bajo seguimiento médico.

Además, gracias al trabajo conjunto entre CAMO y el Hospital de Occidente, se realizaron 250 citologías (Papanicolaou) y se entregó un videocolposcopio de última generación en calidad de comodato por un año, fortaleciendo la atención especializada para cientos de mujeres en la región.

Un impacto que permanece

En CAMO creemos que la mejor forma de transformar la salud es fortalecer las capacidades locales. Cada médico capacitado, cada equipo entregado y cada alianza construida permite que más mujeres tengan acceso a una atención oportuna y de calidad.

Solo en el último año, CAMO brindó 217,767 servicios de salud en Honduras gracias al apoyo de 158 voluntarios estadounidenses.

Con tu donación o como voluntario, puedes ayudarnos a seguir ampliando el acceso a servicios que salvan vidas y construir un futuro más saludable para miles de familias hondureñas.

Testimonials

A Mother’s Miracle: Restoring Sight in Honduras

/

For years, Bersabé Valeriano prayed for one simple gift: the chance to see again.

The 36-year-old mother of two from Belén Gualcho, a remote community in western Honduras, had already been battling kidney disease when darkness slowly took over her life. A perforation in the cornea of her right eye left her blind and took away the independence she once enjoyed.

More than anything, she worried about her two teenage daughters.

“My daughters were worried whenever they saw me blind,” Bersabé says. “I couldn’t care for them the way a mother wants to.”

A Cornea Transplant in Honduras Changed Everything

A cornea transplant was her only hope of seeing again. However, for a homemaker living in poverty and hours away from specialized care, the procedure seemed impossible.

Still, Bersabé kept attending appointments through Fundación CAMO’s eye care program.

Then came the phone call.

The team at CAMO told her that the next day she would receive the surgery she had been praying for. Dr. Julie Schallhorn and Dr. Jay Stewart from the University of California, San Francisco had traveled to Honduras carrying donated corneas from the United States. Together with volunteer specialists from Centro Oftalmológico Robles, led by Dr. Laura Ponce, they made the surgery possible for patients with urgent needs.

As a result, Bersabé received a second chance at sight.

One year later, gratitude still fills her voice.

“I prayed to God for this miracle for years, and today I can see. I couldn’t see anything. Everything was black to me. Now, as the days go by, I see better and better.”

Today, she walks to appointments on her own and no longer fears leaving home.

“Before, I wouldn’t go out because I was afraid a car would hit me. Now I go by myself. I have my independence back. I feel happy.”

For Bersabé, recovering her vision meant much more than seeing again. It allowed her to regain her confidence and care for her family with peace of mind. Most importantly, she can once again look into her daughters’ faces without fear.

Sometimes, miracles arrive through the kindness of strangers, the generosity of donors, and one life-changing phone call.

Noticias

Trasplante de córnea en Honduras cambió su vida

/

Bersabé Valeriano nunca imaginó que un trasplante de córnea en Honduras cambiaría su vida para siempre.

A sus 36 años, esta ama de casa originaria de Belén Gualcho, Ocotepeque, había aprendido a vivir entre la incertidumbre. Madre de dos hijas adolescentes y residente de una comunidad remota ubicada a cuatro horas de Santa Rosa de Copán, enfrentaba una enfermedad renal mientras veía cómo la oscuridad se apoderaba poco a poco de su mundo.

Una perforación en la córnea de su ojo derecho la dejó sin visión. Lo que más le dolía no era depender de otros, sino no poder cuidar de sus hijas como siempre lo había hecho.

“Mis hijas pasaban preocupadas cuando me miraban ciega”, recuerda.

Un trasplante de córnea en Honduras le devolvió la esperanza

Aunque un trasplante de córnea era la única alternativa para recuperar la vista, el procedimiento parecía inalcanzable. Para una familia de recursos limitados, las posibilidades de acceder a una cirugía oftalmológica tan especializada eran prácticamente inexistentes.

Pero la esperanza llegó cuando menos lo esperaba.

Bersabé, paciente del programa de oftalmología de Fundación CAMO, recibió una llamada inesperada. Al otro lado de la línea le informaron que al día siguiente sería operada. Especialistas de la Universidad de California, San Francisco, la Dra. Julie Schallhorn y el Dr. Jay Stewart, habían viajado a Honduras con córneas donadas desde Estados Unidos para ofrecer una nueva oportunidad a pacientes con necesidad urgente.

Junto al equipo voluntario del Centro Oftalmológico Robles, liderado por la Dra. Laura Ponce, hicieron posible este trasplante de córnea en Honduras, una cirugía que para Bersabé representó un verdadero milagro.

Recuperar la vista cambió su vida

Un año después del trasplante, su voz todavía se quiebra al recordar aquel momento.

“Le pedí mucho a Dios. Por años le pedí este milagro, y hoy miro bien. No miraba nada; todo era negro para mí. Ahora, entre más pasan los días, miro mejor.”

Hoy vuelve a caminar sola, asiste sin miedo a sus citas médicas y ha recuperado una independencia que creía perdida.

“Antes no salía. Me daba miedo que me atropellara un carro. Ahora voy sola y tengo independencia; me siento feliz.”

Para Bersabé, recuperar la visión significó mucho más que volver a ver. Significó volver a abrazar el futuro con esperanza, mirar a sus hijas con tranquilidad y demostrar que el acceso a la salud visual puede transformar vidas.

News

Volunteers Transform Emergency Medicine in Honduras

/

What happens when medical knowledge crosses borders? At the Hospital de Occidente (HO), Emergency Medicine is not yet a formal specialty. Local doctors often face high-pressure situations without specialized training. Because of this, sustainable education is vital to save lives.

Recently, a team of volunteers traveled from the USA to Santa Rosa de Copán. They brought key skills to strengthen the local public health system. Their mission included clinical education, research, and community outreach.

Advanced Training in the ER

The first phase focused on sharing practical knowledge. Dr. Farha Khan and Rosalia Mahr led dynamic simulation sessions for local doctors. They used specialized equipment from the CAMO organization. This included advanced CPR, ACLS, and PALS mannequins.

The volunteers trained the hospital staff in key areas:

  • Life Support: They taught ACLS, PALS, and Acute Coronary Syndrome protocols.
  • Ultrasound (POCUS): Doctors learned abdominal, thoracic, and cardiac ultrasound. They also reviewed the critical FAST protocol for trauma.
  • Bedside Teaching: Simulations covered hypertensive crises and Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). They also practiced pelvic fracture management.

The team also taught a CPR class to the X-ray technical staff. This helped extend emergency readiness across different hospital departments.

Clinical Research and Data

Long-term hospital improvement relies on accurate data. Dra. Dora Angélica Monge coordinated this effort. She serves as the Head of the Emergency Department.

Volunteers Anthony Schneider and Veena Rings spent weeks in the ER wards. They focused entirely on clinical research and data collection. This statistical work helps map out local public health needs. The ultimate goal is to design better emergency protocols for Honduran patients.

Supporting Rural Communities

Volunteer Kevin Phelan took over the data collection efforts later. However, the mission quickly expanded beyond the hospital walls. Phelan also lent his hands to specialized care and social programs.

His work included two main activities:

  • Neurology Care: He supported the neurology program at the CAMO facilities.
  • Dental Brigades: He joined rural health campaigns in Las Flores, Lempira. This brought essential oral healthcare to vulnerable communities.
Testimonials

Honduran Teen Receives Life-Changing Prosthetics

/

For 13-year-old Oscar Haniel Serrano, every step has represented determination, resilience, and hope.

Haniel lives in Villanueva, Cortés, Honduras, with his father and three older siblings. As the youngest of four children, he has grown up surrounded by love and encouragement despite the challenges his family has faced.

Born with a congenital limb malformation, Haniel’s journey began differently from that of many children. Yet his story has never been defined by limitations—it has been shaped by perseverance and the support of those who chose to stand beside him.

From an early age, Haniel learned that strength is not measured by circumstances but by the courage to continue moving forward.Today, he is in his first year of secondary school and dreams of creating a brighter future through education. Like many teenagers, he wants the opportunity to learn, grow, and pursue his goals.

As Haniel continues to grow, the prosthetic limbs he depends on no longer fit, creating new challenges for his daily life and mobility.

His father works selling grains to provide for the family’s daily needs, but replacing prosthetic limbs can be financially overwhelming for many families in Honduras.

Since 2015, CAMO has been part of Haniel’s journey, helping provide medical support and prosthetic care that continue giving him the opportunity to move forward—one step at a time.

Noticias

Cada Paso de Oscar Haniel: Una Historia de Esperanza y Resiliencia

/

Para Oscar Haniel Serrano, de 13 años, cada paso ha representado determinación, resiliencia y esperanza.

Haniel vive en Villanueva, Cortés, Honduras, junto a su padre y sus tres hermanos mayores. Como el menor de cuatro hijos, ha crecido rodeado de amor y apoyo a pesar de los desafíos que su familia ha enfrentado.

Nacido con una malformación congénita de las extremidades, el camino de Haniel comenzó de una manera distinta al de muchos niños. Sin embargo, su historia nunca ha estado definida por las limitaciones, sino por la perseverancia y el apoyo de quienes decidieron caminar a su lado.

Desde muy pequeño, Haniel aprendió que la fortaleza no se mide por las circunstancias, sino por el valor de seguir adelante.

Hoy cursa su primer año de secundaria y sueña con construir un futuro mejor a través de la educación. Como muchos adolescentes, desea tener la oportunidad de aprender, crecer y alcanzar sus metas.

A medida que Haniel continúa creciendo, las prótesis de las que depende ya no se ajustan a sus necesidades, creando nuevos desafíos en su vida diaria y movilidad.

Su padre trabaja vendiendo granos para cubrir las necesidades del hogar, pero reemplazar prótesis puede representar una carga económica difícil de afrontar para muchas familias en Honduras.

Desde 2015, CAMO ha sido parte del camino de Haniel, brindándole apoyo médico y atención protésica que continúan dándole la oportunidad de seguir avanzando, un paso a la vez.

Boletines

CAMO en Línea Marzo – Abril 2026

/

CAMO EN LÍNEA ENERO – FEBRERO 2026

En las recientes brigadas médicas y dentales de CAMO, se brindaron 1,332 atenciones en oftalmología, medicina general, ginecología, audiometría, odontología y pediatría. Los voluntarios llegaron a dos comunidades remotas sin acceso a atención médica, y otras cinco comunidades ya están programadas para próximas brigadas especializadas.

Ver  PDF

Testimonials

Young Chess Champion from Honduras Builds Futures

/

In Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras, Diana discovered that chess is more than a game—it is purpose, discipline, and opportunity.

At just 15 years old, Diana became the youngest national chess champion in Honduras. But her story did not begin with trophies or international competitions. It began with family, mentorship, and a legacy passed down through generations.

Her grandfather taught her father, and her father taught her. Three generations connected through a chessboard, creating a tradition that would shape her future.

Diana started playing chess at only three years old and began competing internationally by age seven. Since then, she has dedicated herself to constant growth and improvement. She trains seven days a week, studies every match, analyzes every move, and continually pushes beyond natural talent through hard work and determination.

More Than a Gym: A Place Where Futures Begin

Her journey found an important home at the Community Gym in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras—a facility completed by CAMO in 2004 and continuously supported through CAMO’s long-term commitment to community development and youth programs. “The gym is a key part of my life.

I train here and I have grown in chess,” Diana shares. “But it is also a place where many children are learning and moving forward.”

Today, Diana is a national champion, a Candidate Master, and an international competitor who has represented Honduras in Colombia, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

She will soon represent her country at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. “It feels amazing to represent my country,” Diana says, “but also my city and the gym.” Her story extends beyond personal success.

Today, Diana is helping train younger children, sharing not only chess strategies but also confidence, focus, and the belief that opportunities can transform lives. She encourages young people to dream bigger and understand that success comes through dedication and perseverance.

She dreams of becoming a FIDE Master, a Grand Master, and an architect—someone who creates, designs, and builds, just as she does every time she sits in front of a chessboard.

Diana’s journey is proof that when mentorship, education, and opportunities come together, talent can thrive.

CAMO did not simply help build a community gym—it helped create a place where futures are shaped. And with continued support, many more stories like Diana’s are only beginning.

Scroll to Top